Melbourne today welcomed the 2600-guest Carnival Legend to her new home port for the first of a record 16 sailings over 2018 – 2019.

The world’s largest cruise brand, Carnival Cruise Line has taken the step of basing one of its ships in Melbourne for a record season, giving locals the chance to experience its family-friendly, fun cruise holidays right from their backyard. The brand expects guests from Victoria to double in the next year.

Carnival Legend arrived at Station Pier at 6.00am today with thousands of holidaymakers who had sailed from Sydney. She will now call Melbourne home with her first cruise leaving this afternoon to New Caledonia.

Announcing the news and welcoming the ship to her new home port, Carnival Cruise Line’s President, Christine Duffy said, “Today’s news is in response to the unprecedented demand for Carnival fun in Victoria, our second biggest Australian market.”

“Since launching in 2012^, over 117,000 Victorians have sailed with Carnival Cruise Line – a number which would fill the Rod Laver arena twice,” said Ms. Duffy.

Carnival Legend will undergo a A$57 million upgrade in May to further ‘Melbournise’ the ship with FunShip 2.0 features. This includes Alchemy Bar, an immersive experience featuring cocktails handcrafted by master mixologists, the Mexican-inspired BlueIguana Cantina and Tequila Bar, and Guys Burger Joint curated by Californian restaurateur and Food Network TV personality Guy Fieri.

Ms. Duffy continued with, “I understand Victorians love good coffee, so we’ve started there and upgraded our espresso machines on board, ahead of Carnival Legend’s arrival into Melbourne, ensuring guests can get their morning caffeine fix.”

These new features will accompany the existing 45 activities across 12 decks of fun on Carnival Legend, including Green Thunder – the fastest and steepest waterslide at sea, three swimming pools, the childfree Serenity Retreat and more than 20 bars, lounges and dining options.

Mornington Peninsula couple and avid Carnival lovers, Jennifer and Dennis McCarthy, said today’s news will make it even easier for them to cruise with their favourite brand.

“We’re incredibly excited about today’s news. We love everything about Carnival which is why we’ve sailed over 100 days with the brand and plan many more.

“Now with our very own ship in Melbourne we’re able to cut down on interstate travel pre-cruising and jump straight into the fun.”

Carnival Legend’s sailings boast a range of destinations including the South Pacific, with calls to ports in New Caledonia and Vanuatu, Trans-Tasman escapes to New Zealand, and quick getaways to one of Australia’s favourite destinations – Tasmania.